HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

We Be Friends

We be friends, you and I,
You smile, I smile,
You cry, I cry,
You jump off a bridge,
I gonna miss you!

This is Lilly and Tipper...best buds!

Make Something Monday

Christmas is over! Next up...Valentines Day! So here is my Make Something Monday. I make these to give out for Valentines Day. Everyone loves them and they are really cute. It looks like a pocketbook and it hold one Hershey's Nuggets candy. Download the instructions here.

Wonderful Soap Giveaway

If you don't know about Soap Deli News then you need to check her out. She makes and sells these wonderful soaps and she is having a giveaway for some all natural Lavender and Vanilla soap. I can smell it now! Contest ends January 4th so hurry over and see what other great soap she has.

"The Sign will Be a Rainbow in the Snow"

by: Theresa Phillips, Praise Ministries International
Email: Info@ChicagoProheticVoice.net

While preparing to minister on Sunday, December 14 at Glory House, I began to soar to the realms of GOD during worship. I actually saw the sky fade away from me as I entered the realm of Glory. I was looking down upon the earth, and in our Mid West region, the snow covered the ground. At the same time, I noticed the people were engaging in worship, which makes soaring so much easier.

As I looked into the earth I saw the most beautiful colors of glory emanating from the earth - it was Kingdom on earth. Then the Lord began to speak to us. He said, "I am coming to visit you. Your pockets will BE full, and the sign will be a rainbow in the snow." GOD began to say our empty pockets would be full. Now, I must say, I have never heard of a rainbow in the snow, BUT I knew it had to be GOD - that in the snow would be a sign!

I'll bet you can guess what I did next! When I got home from church, I looked into the snow, and what did I see but many facets of colors radiating from the snow! So, I decided to do a word study on Rainbow, and I found GOD was really speaking to the Church at large.

Rainbows Have Covenant

1. Genesis 9:13, "I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth." (Hey, I am made of earth!)

2. Genesis 9:14, "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds..."

3. Genesis 9:16, "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." (I have decided to purposefully look for rainbows from now on.)

Rainbows have covenant! Covenant, according to the dictionary, is: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement. Now, I love that GOD and I can agree, but I sensed this was going to have to go further, so I read on.

A Covenant of Provision

"Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around Him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." Ezekiel 1:28

I am fully aware that when we enter the presence of God's throne room every provision is granted and is immense. His walls are made of precious jewels and His streets are paved with gold. The seas are made like clear crystal. The trees have healing in their leaves, and the homes are mansions (see Revelation 21). I am fully aware of that realm, having been given the privilege to visit before.

GOD is saying, "I have made covenant with man and with earth. I will not bring destruction; I will bring provision."

In the year 2009, a provision will encircle the Body of Christ; she will be adorned like a beautiful bride. She will shine like a beacon in the night and MANY will run to her to get their needs met.

We hear nothing but negative reports financially, BUT GOD is above all that! He is going to do something to prove Himself once again - He is going to provide for HIS Bride! "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25

This is Covenant - a promise that He gave US!

No More Empty Pockets!

But what about the empty pockets? I sense GOD is saying now is the time to give like never before! I heard that message loud and clear. We have a man in our church who said GOD just told his wife the same thing, and they gave $900 that day. I suspect it was all they had, and GOD is blessing them! He is the man who is reminding me of NO MORE EMPTY POCKETS! He, too, saw the colors in the snow, "like diamonds," he said.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again!" Luke 6:38

I suppose it will be a good thing to go out with some money, give it away, and see Him fill our pockets - especially when we are the head and not the tail:

"And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them..." Deuteronomy 28:13

If God said it, then it is so.

More information at:
The ElijahList & ElijahRain magazine
http://www.elijahlist.com

What would you hear?

Why?

Does anyone else have this problem? My Turkish Angora, Prissy, does this every time I'm trying to do something. Doesn't matter if it's the computer or crochet...she has to be there. Her daughter, Tipper, is just as bad. It's really frustrating when they do their tag-team act. LOL White cat fur in the face, between you and whatever you're trying to do!!!!! WHY! The other 2 don't do that, thank goodness. I'd never get anything done. Why just them? O NO....here she comes again. Bye!

Oh BTW...my family got me a new camera for Christmas. Works great. My old one died several weeks ago. Thank you family. I think it was my daughters' idea so I'd stop asking her to take pictures for me.

Precious Memories

It's Christmas Eve and all the hustle and bustle are about to wind down...thank goodness...and my mind drifts back to "years of yore". There is 1 particular Christmas Eves past that comes to my mind:

I must have been about 5 years old (1957). The whole family was getting together for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner and open presents. We had decided to do this at my aunts house. She just lived one street over from us. Un-be-known to me my parents kept "Santa" in the trunk of the car so I wouldn't find it. (Of course in those days the trunk of a car would hold a house.) Any way...as we gathered for our meal, mother remembered something that she had forgotten at our house and had to run back to get it. We were all waiting on mother to return so we could eat. We waited and waited and waited. It should have taken her maybe 5 minutes to run to our house and get back. We had tried to call the house but no one answered. It got to be 30 minutes and everyone was getting really worried. Some of the uncles decided to go look for her (dad went too). Now they were gone forever too and the worry turned into fear (makes me thankful for cell phones).

What had happened? Mother was on her way back to my aunts house when she was rear-ended by a drunk driver (Smashed on Christmas Eve? Go figure!) which rendered both cars un-drivable. Being Christmas Eve (no one driving by and no cell phones), they had to walk to several houses to find a phone so they could call the police (houses weren't very close together and not everyone had a phone either).

Well, thank God no one was injured and by the time the whole ordeal was over we finally got to eat and open presents about 10pm (see picture in Wordless Wednesday). Now remember I told you earlier that my parents kept "Santa" in the trunk of the car????!!!! Apparently mom had decided to take them into the house while she was home so Christmas wasn't "Smashed" (lol) after all.

Needless to say this could have turned out to be a really tragic story but God had His hand on all of us that night and I give Him all the Glory for everything He has done and continues to do for us and give thanks for the wonderful gift He sent to us.

Wordless Wednesday

My mother would get so excited at Christmas. What she has in her hands are my baby shoes that had been bronzed and turned into bookends (Christmas Eve 1957). I still have them too!

The Curious World of Christmas

By Niall Edworthy

While billions of people celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, this annual festival has spread further, wider, and deeper into society. Even those who do not celebrate this annual festival know about the traditions that mark the season: Santa Claus, Christmas trees, lights and decorations, bells, and kissing under the mistletoe. Where did these customs originate? Some are as old of time, and many are more modern inventions.

Take a look at the origin of some of our favorite traditions.

Niall Edworthy, author of "The Curious World of Christmas," has written 21 books as a ghostwriter and under his own name on a wide range of different subjects. Living today in southern England with his wife and two children, he grew to love Christmas when, as a young child, he and his family moved to the United States for three years.

Santa Claus: The British "Father Christmas" figure is shrouded in pagan mystery and buried deep in the mists of time, but the American "Santa Claus" owes his existence to the Dutch settlers who brought their veneration of Sinter Klass (St. Nicholas) with them to the New World. A number of engravings from the 18th century show the saint in a hat and robes, while stockings full of gifts and fruit hung at the fireside. The original St. Nicholas may have been Nicholas of Myra, an ancient bishop honored for his holiness.

If Santa did have a birthday, it would be December 23,1822, the night that the American Episcopalian minister and classical scholar Clement Clark Moore wrote his famous poem, “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” (also known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”) to read to his three daughters. Moore’s image of a jolly old man with a long white beard and a sack full of gifts has merged with the Santa Claus and Father Christmas characters we recognize today.

Christmas Stockings: The exact origin of hanging stockings is difficult to trace, but it seems to be a tradition that developed in various European countries through centuries. A receptacle (e.g. a clog, a sock, or a pouch) was left out over the Christmas period and was filled with gifts by St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Some believed gifts were given by a friendly winter spirit such as a fairy, a troll, or a nice witch.

In the early 19th century, the stocking beat its rivals to become the preferred way of receiving gifts--perhaps because it was the largest! The custom of hanging stockings on the fireplace was further popularized by Clement Clark Moore’s famous poem and Thomas Nast’s illustrations.

Reindeer and Santa’s Sleigh: Clement Clark Moore’s poem also introduced the notion of Santa traveling on a reindeer-drawn sleigh to deliver gifts to the children of the world as he called out: Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! / On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

How Santa manages to do this in one night remains one of the great mysteries that only children understand. Mathematicians have worked out that if Santa’s sleigh was loaded with one Barbie doll and one G.I. Joe for every girl and boy on the planet, the sleigh would weigh 400,000 tons and need almost a billion reindeer to pull it. To deliver them all in one night, Santa would have to deliver to roughly 1,500 homes a second and travel at roughly 5,000 times the speed of sound. This has baffled experts in the aviation industry who say that the aircraft would burst into flames at just a fraction of that speed.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The world’s most famous reindeer made his nervous entry into Christmas culture in the early 20th century. The timid one with the throbbing red nose, who showed the world that a facial abnormality is no bar to career advancement or a life of contentment, was the creation of American copywriter Robert L. May. He came up with a poem about Rudolph in 1939 to lure more customers into the chain of Montgomery Ward department stores. The poem sold more than two million copies that year, and when it was republished in 1946, after World War II, it sold another three and a half million.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe: The curious--and sometimes delightful--custom of kissing under the mistletoe has its origins in our ancestors’ belief that this parasitic plant conferred powers of fertility and vitality. In medieval times, women wrapped mistletoe around their waist and wrists to boost their chances of conceiving. Mistletoe’s reputation as a magical life force arose from the fact that the plant, which grows at the top of apple trees, is able to live through the harshest of winters and still produce fruit. Its ability to reproduce and grow without roots in the ground added to its mystical aura.

Scandinavian legend reveals how mistletoe ended up at the top of trees: Frigga, Norse goddess of love and beauty and wife of Odin, banished the mistletoe to the forest canopy after her son, Balder the Beautiful, was killed by a dart made from its wood. When Balder came back to life, Frigga made mistletoe a symbol of love and eternal life.

Christmas Tree: Evergreen trees were used to celebrate pagan winter festivals for thousands of years before Christ. Northern Europe used branches of the abundant fir tree to adorn homes starting from the winter solstice through spring. Evergreens were symbols of eternal life at a time of year when all other forms of plant life had died. Southern Europe and the Middle East also venerated evergreen plants during the winter months. The Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples during the rowdy December festival of Saturnalia.

The Christian Church absorbed the evergreen tradition because the symbolism of everlasting life echoed elements of the Christian faith. The first printed references to Christmas trees come from Germany in the early 16th century. It wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that Christmas trees became a common feature in homes, as British and American middle-classes began to follow the example set by Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Christmas Lights and Decorations: When you ignite the brandy on the Christmas pudding, light a Christmas candle, wrap a tree in fairy lights, burn a Christmas log, or watch street illuminations being turned on, these are the modern versions of traditional pagan light and fire traditions.

During the winter solstice (December 21st), fires were lit all over northern Europe to honor the rising of the sun and the lengthening of the days. People living off the land worshipped the returning sun because it gave them the food needed to live. During the early 20th century, Christmas lights began to appear in shop windows, but it wasn’t until World War II that the majority of households could afford them.

Poinsettias: Poinsettia The tradition of buying poinsettias at Christmas time comes from Mexico. The plants are native to southern Central America and Africa, and they are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first American ambassador to Mexico. He began importing the plants to the United States in the late 1820s. There are all sorts of Latin American legends about how the plant has become so closely associated with Christmas, but the truth is that poinsettias simply look good! They flower in the winter and happen to come in red and green, the traditional Christmas colors.

Christmas Bells: Bells have been associated with the Christmas experience for many years. They have been celebrated in a number of famous songs such as “Jingle Bells” and poems such as Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Supposedly, the tradition evolved from an ancient practice of using bells to frighten away evil spirits during the dark days of winter.

Over time, the sound of a bell ringing became an expression of happiness. Church bells ring out joyful melodies on days of celebration. The festive association was strengthened with the arrival of Santa and reindeer. Scandinavians would also fit reindeer with bells in order to find them in the dark, in thick winter fogs, and in blizzards.

Candy Canes

Strange New Product!!!!!

OK. I have to admit that I love to find new and interesting products but there are just some things that were NOT meant to be discovered. I stumbled upon the "Subtle Butt" disposable gas neutralizers!!!!! OMG...LOL. You just have to see it to believe. Supposedly this product is placed in a certain area so you don't cause unexpected, embarrassing odors. ROFL...sorry. Anyway they have a video that shows you how to use it...you gotta see this!!!!! And best of all - it only costs $9.95! I'm sure everyone will rush right out and get this amazing new product. :-) What a great stocking stuffer!!!!!

Rakkiddo Giveaway

What is a Rakkiddo you ask? Well it is just the neatest gadget I've ever seen. It is a compact shoe storage unit by Rakku Design. Never have to look for shoes again and you can register to win one over at Jolly Mom. Hurry because it ends January 5th.

Make Something Monday

How do you wrap a Gift Card or Gift Certificate? I make my own Gift Card Holder. All you need is card stock, design paper and velcro. It's easy, fun and when you give them the person receiving is surprised. If you'd like instructions just leave me a post with your email and I'll be glad to send you the details. They are fun to give and can be reused!

Win a Flip Video Camera!!!!!

That's right! You have a chance to win a Flip Video Camera. Go over to I Never Grew Up to enter. Hurry...it ends January 2nd.

Stranger Than Fiction!

Source: upi.com

Dead man receives calls in grave

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- New York defense lawyer John Jacobs continues to receive voice-mail messages three years after he was buried with his beloved cell phone.

Jacobs' family buried him with his fully charged Motorola T720 phone after he died of pancreatic cancer, the New York Post reported Sunday.

His wife, Marian Seltzer, also a defense lawyer, continues to pay his monthly $55 phone bill and his cell number is etched into his gravestone under the words "Rest in Peace."

The first call after death came during the funeral from Jacobs' son, Simon. "The poor grave diggers. I thought they'd have a heart attack," Seltzer said.

Seltzer and her two sons, who regularly leave messages, hear this when they dial his number: "Hi. You've reached the voice mail of John Jacobs. After you hear the beep, leave a voice mail and I will return your call."

Seltzer said she keeps her husband up to date on sports news and how their sons are doing.

"Some people talk to God," Seltzer said. "I talk to my deceased husband.

Award Time

Thank you Felicia at gograhamgo.com for the Fabulous Award!

The rules for this one is to admit my 5 addictions and then pass it onto another 5 blogs…

Hello, My name is Mary and I am addicted to…

1. Jesus :) He is my refuge!
2. My family
3. Crafting (especially crochet)
4. My pets (Lilly, Prissy, Tipper, Lacy and Pepper)
5. NCIS

I'm passing this along to:

1. From Melissa's Desk
2. Frugal Rhode Island Mama
3. The Not-So-Blog Blog
4. Prima Crafty Momma
5. Zemeks

Chocolate Can Be Good For You....YEAH!

5 more reasons to each chocolate...like I even needed a reason!!!!!

1. Improves Cholesterol Levels. A recent study conducted at Penn State University found that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol and higher levels of HDL "good" cholesterol.

2. Regulates Blood Pressure. According to a German study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a bite of dark chocolate a day may help regulate high blood pressure. The study's authors suspect that the cocoa increases levels of nitric oxide, a compound that helps to relax and open the blood vessels.

3. Builds Muscles. It might seem like a strange choice for a sports drink, but chocolate milk may help boost athletic performance. In a recent Indiana University study, cyclists who drank chocolate milk between workouts scored better on fatigue and endurance tests than those who consumed standard sports beverages.

4. Boosts Brainpower. According to the National Alzheimer's Association, consuming dark chocolate can help reduce your chances of developing dementia later in life.

5. Fights Disease. Cornell University researchers recently found that cocoa contains nearly twice the disease-fighting antioxidants of red wine and up to three times more than green tea.

Free Software

I just found this great site called "Giveaway of the Day".

Giveaway of the day is a win-win solution for both publishers and clients!

The idea behind "Giveaway of the Day" is that many sites and publishers offer trial downloads; but "Giveaway of the Day" offers giveaway downloads.

Every day they nominate one software title that will be a Giveaway title of that day. The software will be available for download for 24 hours (or more, if agreed by software publisher) and that software will be absolutely free. That means - not a trial, not a limited version - but a registered and legal version of the software will be free for visitors. Check it out or check the ticker here on my site to find out what the giveaway will be for the day.

To My Suprise....I won!!!

I never win!!!! That's just the way it is. Imagine my surprise when I won the "Refresh'n Dryer Towel" on "From Melissa's Desk". Thank you Melissa! Maybe this will break the "you don't win" curse. Can't wait to get it and start using it. Check out Melissa. She has an awesome blog and some great give-a-ways.

Obama planning billion-dollar 'bailout' for abortion industry

Last week, the Obama-Biden Transition Project posted a report on its website that calls for dramatic policy reversals on abortion, including $1 billion in taxpayer money for international abortion groups like Planned Parenthood. The report, titled "Advancing Reproductive Rights and Health in a New Administration," also calls for a 133-percent increase in funding for the Title X program, which funds Planned Parenthood clinics across the country.

Read the rest of the story here.

How do you think Barack Obama would react to public outcry over increased funding for Planned Parenthood?

Vote in our poll

Did You Know?

The poisonous-arrow frog contains enough poison to kill 2,200 people.

Credit: www.virginiazoo.com
Copyright: Virginia Zoo

Going Green?!

OK. Everyone is trying to "Go Green" today so here are some new uses, or should we say re-purposed ideas, for old leftovers I found in the December 2008 Woman's World magazine. I was quite surprised!!!!

1. Lemons: When cooking hands you lemons, turn them into a cleaning powerhouse! Toss the rinds from those squeezed-out citrus fruits into your garbage disposal, give it a whirl and you'll have a fresh-smelling sink in seconds.

2. Onion Halves: It's easy to get your indoor grill sparkling with the cut side of an onion! Simply stick a fork in one end and rub the onion on the still-warm grate. It contains chemicals that scrub off stuck-on bits.

3. Coffee Grounds: Make fireplace cleanup easy! Sprinkle still-damp coffee grounds over ashes before you scoop them up--you'll prevent dust from getting everywhere!

4. Orange Peels: Keep a strip of orange peel (about 3" will do) in your box of brown sugar. The rind keeps the sweet stuff from hardening into a brick, so baking is a breeze!

5. Flat Soda: Cola lost its fizz? Turn it into a ham glaze! Use it to baste the pork as it bakes, and you'll end up with a sweet and juicy treat.

6. Cooked Rice: Spread leftover rice on a cookie sheet and set it in a low-temp oven until completely dry. Then place in a resealable plastic bag, store in the freezer, and you've got a cold pack to help ease any aches and pains.

written by Amanda Prost

Merry Christmas to all!

View Your E-card

Wordless Wednesday...I'm so confused!!!!

Print your own giftwrap!

If you have a color printer at home, you're just a few clicks away from beautiful holiday-themed gift wrap items. Here's where to go:

Gift Tags: freeprintablegifttags.net and accenttheparty.com/freechristmastags.

Wrapping Paper: Epson's Creative Zone and familyshoppingbag.com/wrapping_paper.htm.

Foldable Boxes: packagetech.com/printable-boxes-and-seals.html and shala.addr.com/print/printables/holiday.html. Print out on cardstock paper found in stationery stores.

As shown in the 2008 Woman's World magazine

Treat your kids to a chat with Santa!

As found in the December 2008 Woman's World Magazine

On the phone... On the Ho Ho Hotline, kids can talk directly to Santa or Mrs. Claus courtesy of specially trained volunteer seniors and staff at Kindred Healthcare nursing facilities around the country. For a list of Ho Ho Hotline phone numbers and hours, log onto kindredhealthcare.com/nuirsingcenter/hohohotline.asp

Over the internet... Starting December 10, kids can log on to chatwithsanta.com and call the free 800 number listed on the site to talk with Santa live on his web cam from the North Pole! Your children can then see Santa as he chats with them or try an animated version at alicebot.org/santa.

By e-mail... Have them e-mail their wish list and holiday greetings to Santa at santa-at-home.com and they'll get a return e-mail from Kris Kringle in return!

Make Something Monday

This is a crocheted Christmas Tree Ornament. It is an icicle. I love to crochet so I'm always trying to find patterns that are unique. I get great joy and satisfaction by making something like this and then giving it away. Here is the link to the pattern if you would like to have it.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas as the song has always been a beautiful song but no one ever understood its meaning. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

• The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
• The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books Of the Old Testament.
• The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
• Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
• The eight maids' a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
• The ten lord's a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
• The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
• The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today.

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Morning Easy Breakfast

Found this great recipe and thought it looked like a great way to have an easy, quick breakfast for Christmas morning. Things can be kinda hectic on Christmas morning and I'm always looking for something that I can fix that is easy and good. It's called Cheesy Florentine Biscuit Cups and sounds delicious. Looks pretty good too!

Should President-elect Obama keep his promise to Planned Parenthood?

*American Family Association, December 11, 2008

"On July 8, President-elect Barack Obama told Planned Parenthood: “The first thing I would do as president is to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.” The Freedom of Choice Act will eradicate nearly every state and federal abortion law that protects the unborn baby. It would also prevent states from enacting any similar protective measures for the unborn in the future.

Should President-elect Barack Obama keep his promise to Planned Parenthood and strike down nearly every pro-life law in America?"

I realize this is a very volatile subject but it is one that most of us have a strong opinion in what ever side you're on. American Family Association is taking a poll that will be delivered to President-elect Obama on this subject. I have provided a link at the bottom if you would like to voice your opinion.

Take the Poll

Wordless Wednesday

Pet Owner's Guide to Home Treatments

This article was published in "The Fairview Town Crier", one of our local papers, in September 2008. It was written by a local veterinarian – Leigh Ann Hamon, DVM, Cane Creek Animal Clinic – and I wanted to share it with all you animal lovers. I keep it on my refrigerator just in case!

“Most minor cat and dog injuries can be handled at home provided the pet owner has the right supplies and medications on hand. As a pet owner, I would recommend having on hand at all times the following supplies:

• Empty syringes, 6-12 cc size: Good for giving medication/flushing wounds.
• Tweezers/hemostats: God for tick and thorn removal
• Thermometer
• Bandage dressing
• Triple antibiotic: Only apply to superficial scrapes!
• Sterile Saline Wash for Eyes
• Hydrogen Peroxide: All purpose wound cleaner and may be used to induce vomiting. May give in 10 ml increments to induce vomiting.
• Baking Soda/Flour: Good for blood clotting when toe nails are broken
• Tissue glue or Superglue (Superglue is sterile until opened): For minor skin tears or to repair chewed out sutures.
• Liquid dishwashing soap: The grease cutting ability washes off most skin toxicities including flea products producing an unfavorable reaction. This might save your cat if the wrong flea medication is applied topically. The fastest it is washed off, the better chance your cat has of surviving.

The following medications are considered safe for otherwise healthy dogs and cats if used sparingly and if given at the appropriate dosage.

• Benadryl (diphenhydramine): May be used for insect bites or hives. It is generally safe to give up to one ml per pound for both cats and dogs. It may cause slight sedation in your pet. Consult your veterinarian if your animal is currently on medication that may interact with Benadryl.
• Tagamet/Zantac/Pepcid: It is safe for use in otherwise healthy dogs and cats for minor stomach upset. Use the children's dose for cats/small dogs and the adult dose for medium to large dogs. If your pet continues to vomit or will not eat consult your veterinarian.
• Imodium: It is safe for several continued uses in otherwise healthy doge and cats for mild diarrhea. A teaspoon every 4-6 hours for cats and small dogs. A tablespoon every 4-6 hours for medium dogs. Two tablespoons every 4-6 hours for large dogs. A veterinarian should check out your pet if the diarrhea continues in excess of 24 hours.
• Pure buffered asprin: It may be used for minor soreness. An 81 mg asprin for cats and small dogs. One regular 325 mg asprin for medium sized dogs and two asprin for dogs over 75 lbs. NEVER give any other anti-inflammatory medication but pure asprin to your cat. Asprin may cause stomach upset that can eventually lead to ulceration, so it must be given sparingly unless directed by your veterinarian. It also cannot be mixed with many types of medications or herbal remedies.

If your pet ingests a household poison first call the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) or the Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) if you know what your pet ingested. Some products tell you what to do on the warning label. For many household poisons professionals will direct your to either induce vomiting or give one of the following items:

• Vinegar/Lemon Juice
• Eggs or Whole Milk
• Sodium Bicarbonate/Club Soda
• Milk of Magnesia, Mylanta, or Maalox

It is nice to have these items on hand when you need them instead of having to take time to run to the store.”

Redneck Play Station

Here is a way to save money. It's the Redneck Play Station. No need to rush out to the stores and fight the crowds and spend money on a game system that you really can't afford. No! Just click here and have hours of fun with the Redneck Play Station! Hope you enjoy. LOL

Make Something Monday

Maybe Santa will bring me a new digital camera for Christmas so I can do this.

Six Board Games that Develop Language Skills

Found this article and thought it to be note-worthy especially for you moms with younger children.

Are you looking for a unique gift this holiday season for the board game lover on your list? Whether it is for a child or an adult, a native English speaker or non-native English speaker, building language skills is important for anybody at any level. How about a game that promotes language skill development or vocabulary building and promises hours of fun and laughter with your friends, family or colleagues!

Like anything else, practicing healthy habits and developing new speech and language skills can escalate self-confidence, improve memory and cognition. If you were told that this process could be accomplished by playing games and having fun, would it sound too good to be true? Well, it is true. Here are a few games that will really bring joy this holiday season and build language and cognitive skills!

- Mad Gab-an excellent game for learning the importance of stress in words.

- Taboo-learn to describe an action, idea, or thing using different words.

- Cranium-develops word finding, spelling, unscrambling, and vocabulary skills.

- Scattergories-a game that requires you to express yourself quickly.

- Balderdash-learn to use creative word expression.

- Scrabble-an all time classic that builds vocabulary and spelling.

Do you fumble when trying to pronounce new words? Mad Gab gives you the opportunity to explore how stress on words changes the meaning completely. Try reading this combination of words until you are stressing the correct syllables and producing a common saying: Twin Tea Twin Tea Heinz Height OR Thirst Aim Awning. Can you figure it out? This game proves that stressing the right syllables is important to figure out words and it shows you how we link words together to form thoughts. The slogan for this game is: It's not what you SAY, It's what you HEAR!

Have you ever fumbled looking for the right words to use? Learning to describe actions and ideas coherently is an important skill. Most ideas can be expressed in multiple ways. We can say the same thing using different words. Since most of us experience moments of forgetting words, Taboo is a great way to practice describing ideas using different words. In this game, you must describe something without using specific words that are listed on your card. For example, try describing sugar without saying the words sweet, white, brown, coffee or candy! The game further develops speaking with clarity. When someone doesn't understand what you say, being able to describe what you want to say in another way is important to help your listener understand.

Improving your vocabulary will reap benefits throughout your life. New vocabulary helps build knowledge while ensuring brain activity for the aging brain. When you can use and speak new words, you'll produce a message that is clear and intentional. By playing with new words, you may also be able to access them more readily and decrease the number of times that you experience word finding problems. Both Scrabble and Cranium help develop vocabulary skills.

Having difficulty thinking quickly? How about a game that promotes quick responses. Sometimes when we want to express ourselves quickly, we need the skill of saying things concisely. Scattergories helps develop quick thinking. In this game, you match categories using words that start with the same letter. The catch? You only have three minutes to come up with the words to fit the categories.

Balderdash is a game of bluffing! Ok, maybe that's not such a good thing in real life but it sure is a lot of fun in a game. You will have to display a lot of confidence to hide your bluff. In this game you provide silly or serious descriptions of events and your team decides if you are telling the truth or bluffing.

If you are someone who likes to play games by yourself, there are plenty of language developing games available to play alone. Crossword puzzles, JUMBLE puzzles and word searches are all excellent games for vocabulary building. You can extend the learning by looking up unfamiliar words in the dictionary and writing them down in a small notebook. Then, try using them in conversation. Review them frequently to assure that they become part of your vocabulary bank.

Working on developing your language skills is fun and entertaining with any of these award winning games for all ages. Whether you are looking for something to do at a party, reunion, or during a vacation, you can't go wrong with these educational games! Don't forget to add them to your holiday list this year!

About the Author:

Lynda Stucky is an expert at working with people who want to speak with clarity, credibility, and influence. President and owner of ClearlySpeaking, her background in speech pathology offers unique skills for consulting business professionals on communication skills including accent modification (regional and foreign), voice care, vocal dynamics, diction, grammar and how to speak concisely. http://www.clearly-speaking.com

Sweet Treat Give-away

The Gumdrop Cookie Shop, in conjunction with Mom Buzz, is offering a "Sweet" give-away. They are offering a product from their Sweet Statements Line which gives you six bars or cookies of a sweet treat per package, plus a cookie that has a Sweet Statement on it! You can visit here to see your options (excluding the Custom Sweet Statement).

Go to the Mom Buzz blog to see the details but you better hurry, this Sweet Treat offer ends December 8th at Midnight!

Wouldn't this be a wonderful item to take to a friend or family's house?

A Mothers' Grieving Heart

As a mother my greatest fear is the loss of one of my children. I've lost my mother and father and other family members but as much as that hurt I can't imagine losing a child.

Unfortunately, there are mothers all over the world today grieving the loss of a child and my heart grieves with them. There is one mother in particular that is grieving today, she is a fellow blogger. Her son Nick passed away on Sunday, November 30 after a long battle with brain cancer.

Nicks' battle is chronicled in his blog and his mothers'. Please take time to visit her site and leave a word of encouragement to her and the family. It is a sad but heartwarming story.

Tammys' blog
Nicks' blog

Cute Give-away at Tailored Tadpole

I found the cutest tee-shirts for babies up to 2T inspired by the mogul mom. You need to hop on over to Tailored Tadpole and check out her great give-away. You better hurry cause it ends December 8, 2008.

Looking for coupons?

Due to the state of "things" I find myself unemployed and the search looks bleek too. So I'm looking for anything to help save money. Coupons are good things to have around especially now. Thought I'd share places I've found just in case anyone else is looking.

http://www.mycoupons.com/
http://www2.kelloggs.com/
http://print.coupons.com/
http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.coolsavings.com/
http://www.wow-coupons.com/
http://www.couponcabin.com/
http://www.mysavings.com/
http://www.freecoupons.com/
http://www.entirelycoupons.com/
http://www.savings.com/
http://www.freecoupon-savings.com/
http://www-ws32.restaurant.com/
http://www.couponsurfer.com/
http://www.valpak.com/
http://www.momsview.com/

The Bookworm Award

I've been tagged by Mel with the Bookworm award!
This is what I'm supposed to do:
Grab the book closest to you
Turn to page 56
Go to the fifth line
Type it and the following couple of lines

The book closest to me is "Dance, Dance, Dance" by Lynn M. Hayden.
The text I found at the designated spot is:

"EZRA 3:10: And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel."

I have taged 5 people:
Tammy
Jess
Piera
Felicia
Misty

Wordless Wednesday: Can you come out and play?

How to maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks . Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For Marijuana'

6. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.

7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

8. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.

9. Sing Along At The Opera.

10. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache..

11. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'

12. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'

13. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, 'Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.'

Mediterranean Crescent Pinwheels

INGREDIENTS
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
1/2 lb prosciutto or cooked ham, thinly sliced
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled (1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil


DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.
2. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. Press or roll each to form 8x5-inch rectangle. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles. Press or roll each to form an 8x5-inch rectangle.
3. Arrange 1/4 of prosciutto slices evenly over each rectangle. In small bowl, mix cheese, pepper and oil. Sprinkle mixture evenly over prosciutto on each rectangle. Sprinkle with basil.
4. Starting at short side of each rectangle, roll up; seal long edges. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 5 slices. Place, cut side up, on cookie sheets.
5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheets. Serve warm.

Angel Food Cake Dessert

This is a great, simple dessert.

Ingredients:
1 Angel Food Cake (broken)
1 can Crushed Pineapple
water
1/2 cup sugar
1 envelope plain gelatin
1 large bowl Cool Whip
Coconut or nuts (optional)

Boil sugar and 1/2 cup water together for about 1 minute.

Dissolve one envelope plain gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Mix with pineapple and let cool. When slightly congealed, mix 1/2 bowl cool whip with pineapple mixture and cake. Blend carefully and spread into a square or rectangle dish. Spread the rest of the cool whip on top and sprinkle with coconut/nuts. Refrigerate.

Top 10 Cold and Flu Myths - Demystified!

With all the old wives tales about cold and flu rattling in our heads, it’s tough to know what works —and what doesn’t. Busting myths may not be the total Rx, but it may help you find the right remedy.

1. MYTH: The flu is just a bad cold.
TRUTH: They’re not even cousins.

Colds and flu are both caused by viruses. But they're different strains. It’s hard to tell which you have, but here are two clues:

- Colds come on gradually. First, it’s a sore throat, then a runny nose followed by a cough. The flu, on the other hand, hits at once.

- Colds don’t generally produce fever. With the flu, you may be burning up. (Exception: Children can run high fevers with colds.)

2. MYTH: A cold affects your nose, throat and chest. The flu strikes your stomach.
TRUTH: Not quite.

The flu can make you nauseous, but in only about a third of cases. Usually, when you're sick to your stomach, it's for a different reason – another virus, a bacterial infection or food poisoning.

3. MYTH: Cold weather makes you catch a cold or flu.
TRUTH: It’s just a coincidence.

You get caught in the rain and return home wet and chilled. Next thing you know, you’re feeling under the weather. It's easy to blame it on Mother Nature. Except for the fact that both colds and flu happen mostly in winter, there’s absolutely no climate connection.

No one knows why winter is cold-and-flu season. But there are theories. People spend more time indoors within sneezing distance of infected friends, relatives and co-workers.

Cold and flu viruses also survive better in winter, when humidity is lower. The longer they survive, the more chances they have to infect you.

Cold air may also be hard on the respiratory system, making you more susceptible to infections, says Ira Leviton, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Montefiore Hospital and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. But the virus, not the temperature, is what makes you sick.

Viruses travel, too, says Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. Each year, new strains develop in Asia in the continent’s rainy season and arrive in the U.S. about six to nine months later – usually by winter.

4. MYTH: Getting a flu shot can give you the flu.
TRUTH: Not even close.

The vaccine is made from a dead flu virus. It can't infect you. Any reaction you may have is due to the vaccine’s proteins and chemicals, Edelman says. So, even if your reaction feels like the flu, it's not the flu.

5. MYTH: Breathing the same air as a sick person can make you sick.
TRUTH: True.

Coughing and sneezing can send viruses into the air. And you could get sick inhaling them. But that's not likely. More common: A sick person rubs her eyes or nose, picks up a telephone and deposits germs that can live there for several hours. You pick up the phone, rub your eyes or nose, and – tada! – the germs have claimed a new victim.

To avoid catching a bug – or giving it to someone else – wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often during cold and flu season.

6. MYTH: "Feed a cold, and starve a fever?" Or "starve a cold, and feed a fever?”
TRUTH: Feed, feed, feed.

People are never sure what to feed and what to starve. But it doesn’t matter, because you need to feed both a cold and a fever. Not eating or drinking enough, you make you dehydrated. And that's when you’re most likely to catch a cold or flu.

When you’re fighting a virus, the body needs more fluids than usual because it’s losing water (from watering eyes, runny nose, perspiration). Types of fluids matter too. Drink water, broth, juices and warm water with lemon and honey to rehydrate you and reduce congestion. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you more.

7. MYTH: Natural remedies like vitamin C, echinacea or zinc can prevent a cold or cure it.
TRUTH: Unlikely.

There’s no scientific proof that vitamins, minerals or supplements can prevent or cure colds. But they may shorten them.

Research has shown that daily doses of at least 1,000-2,000 milligrams of vitamin C can end a cold a day or so earlier, at least 200 mg may lower the chances of catching one at all for people in extreme situations such marathon runners, skiers or soldiers on sub-arctic exercises.

Studies of echinacea and zinc, on the other hand, have had mixed results, but these natural remedies are still used by many believers. (See related article: Natural Remedies for Cold and Flu Prevention)

"If it were really that easy, argues Leviton, we could get rid of colds from the entire world."

8. MYTH: Antibiotics can cure a cold or flu.
TRUTH: Absolutely not!

Antibiotics kill bacteria. Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, which don’t respond to antibiotics. It’s like putting your arm in a cast to get rid of a headache. You won’t feel better (unless you also have an ear infection, sinusitis or other bacterial problem). And you could be making the world a scarier place. The more frequently you take antibiotics, the more resistant they become to drugs in general.

9. MYTH: Once you catch a cold or flu, all you can do is wait for it to pass.
TRUTH: Not so for flu.

Prescription antiviral flu medications, such as Tamiflu and Relenza, can reduce symptoms and heal you faster. But they must be taken within the first two days experiencing symptoms.

"Two and a half days is too late," Leviton says.

No such prescription medicines are available for colds. Over-the-counter medicines, such as decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers are your best bet for cold and flu symptoms.

10. MYTH: You can treat a cold or flu with chicken soup.
TRUTH: Possibly.

Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that may fight cold and flu symptoms, researchers have found. (A comparison of store-bought versus homemade soups, many canned varieties were as good as mom’s version.) So far, though, scientists have only observed the soup's beneficial effects in rat’s labs – not people.

"It couldn't hurt," Leviton says. "People should be eating and drinking whatever makes them feel better. If they like chicken soup, they should have chicken soup."

Science aside, soup simply feels soothing. It’s also re-hydrating, and steam from the broth can de-stuff your nose.

Want more? Check out the Cold and Flu Health Center.

How Much Do You Know About Home Remedies?
Chicken soup for a cold? Holding your breath to stop hiccups? Friends and family swear by these common cures, but you’re skeptical. Can you decipher fact from fiction? Find out how much you really know in this quiz.

By Karen Ravn, Special to LifeScript